2024/2025 Season trade rumours and speculation thread

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by SilverKast

You trade for Rossi if the goal is perpetual mediocrity, because that's where it would land us. Nothing against the player, but he's not enough to make this a great team - rather he's likely just enough to keep us mediocre. Which keeps us drafting with mediocre picks, and unless we luck into a franchise player with our mid range picks we remain mediocre and the cycle continues.

We need some elite talent, but the issue remains how to obtain it.

Nah, you draft McQueen or some other giant if your goal is perpetual mediocrity. You draft and trade for skill if your goal is to win.

[Knut]

It all comes down to acquisition cost. Is it worth us to move our Later first for him ? Maybe. More than that ? Probably not. What if you can offload a forward for a solid LHD d-man to supplement the group by making this move ?

He is young enough that you can likely recoup some assets if you move him later.

An offersheet of 4.58 for Rossi is equivalent to a 2nd round pick of compensation. Thats the minimum offer for him. Upping it to a late first could make it happen

[FusionX]

Do you trade Zary for Rossi straight up? Seems mostly like arranging deck chairs, but Rossi does play center. I think I would though I'm not sure Minny would, unless they really liked Zary and/or really wants to move on from Rossi.

[WickerChicken]

The Flames are unlikely to draft franchise-altering player(s) unless they win the lottery or get very lucky.

It's also tough to judge any single trade in isolation. Successful teams build over time, and while each move has pros and cons, it's only in hindsight—looking at the full picture—that you can fairly assess them.

Building a consistent contender takes time and multiple pieces—some core, some complementary. All are assets that can be used to make roster changes when it's time to push for a playoff run. We're not there yet.

The focus should be on acquiring difference-makers when the opportunity and price are right. We are not trying to win the cup next year, or make final roster decisions to win a cup.

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

Nah, you draft McQueen or some other giant if your goal is perpetual mediocrity. You draft and trade for skill if your goal is to win.

This is an awfully thin argument.

And who are these giants you speak of? McQueen is 6’5”, he’s not 6’10”.

There’s been an abundance of C’s in the history of the league that are 6’3” or 6’4”. If there’s some data out there to link that extra inch or two to a significant drop off in a players ability, I’d like to see it.

[YyjFlames]

Rossi is Lomberg’s size and from photos looks to have a similar build (he doesn’t seem to take his shirt off quite as much as Lomberg or the red hot chilli peppers). He was also seen as one of the hardest workers in that draft, playing a physical game and someone who goes to the net. And he’s made strong progress over the last two years.

Sure he’s shorter, but he’s not small and he has the tools to anchor a top line.

There’s risk here (he didn’t score much when Ek and Kaprisov went down down the stretch as teams targeted him), but it’s not his size.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by YyjFlames

Rossi is Lomberg’s size and from photos looks to have a similar build (he doesn’t seem to take his shirt off quite as much as Lomberg or the red hot chilli peppers). He was also seen as one of the hardest workers in that draft, playing a physical game and someone who goes to the net. And he’s made strong progress over the last two years.

Sure he’s shorter, but he’s not small and he has the tools to anchor a top line.

There’s risk here (he didn’t score much when Ek and Kaprisov went down down the stretch as teams targeted him), but it’s not his size.

Which raises the question of why the Wild want to move him in the first place. It’s not as though they have a surplus of talent up from. Rossi was their second leading scorer in the regular season, while a 37 year old Zuccarello was fourth, and Gaudreau was fifth with 37 points. If the issue is just that Rossis isn’t a good fit for some reason, or they’ll have trouble fitting him under the cap (which seems unlikely with Parise and Suter coming off the books), there will be other teams lining up to bid on him. He won’t come cheap.

[Badgers Nose]

If Wild and Rossi have a contract dispute and Flames can get him for a reasonable price, or offer sheet him, them Rossi would be a good add.

He is a 60 pt guy on an ascending trajectory. I'm sure lots of teams will be interested.

The issue seems to be cap related for the Wild (projecting out to other contracts maybe) and usage related for Rossi. There is a rift there judging by the exit interviews and media day stuff.

[kyuss275]

Are there in rumours of minny maybe trading Rossi or is it the rumour from last summer that have posters talking about it? Not sure why they would consider it now.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by Badgers Nose

If Wild and Rossi have a contract dispute and Flames can get him for a reasonable price, or offer sheet him, them Rossi would be a good add.

He is a 60 pt guy on an ascending trajectory. I'm sure lots of teams will be interested.

The issue seems to be cap related for the Wild (projecting out to other contracts maybe) and usage related for Rossi. There is a rift there judging by the exit interviews and media day stuff.

I doubt you could offer-sheet Rossi without giving up a 1st.

Bourque is likely the only target that you could comfortably offer-sheet in that 2nd round pick cost tier.

As excited as I am about the offer-sheet idea, I would not be willing to give up next year's 1st. That eliminates most of the top tier RFA targets (Byram, Rossi, Peterka, etc).

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

Are there in rumours of minny maybe trading Rossi or is it the rumour from last summer that have posters talking about it? Not sure why they would consider it now.

I think it's a combination of old rumours and that he was demoted down the line-up in the playoffs, plus being up for a new contract.

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by Wolven

I doubt you could offer-sheet Rossi without giving up a 1st.

Bourque is likely the only target that you could comfortably offer-sheet in that 2nd round pick cost tier.

As excited as I am about the offer-sheet idea, I would not be willing to give up next year's 1st. That eliminates most of the top tier RFA targets (Byram, Rossi, Peterka, etc).

I’d prefer the Flames don’t offer sheet anyone.

They should keep contributing to their RRSP’s, opposed to chasing bitcoin.

[keenan87]

Originally Posted by FusionX

Do you trade Zary for Rossi straight up? Seems mostly like arranging deck chairs, but Rossi does play center. I think I would though I'm not sure Minny would, unless they really liked Zary and/or really wants to move on from Rossi.

Is this a serious question?

Zary has 61 points in 117 games and has been riddled with injuries. Unfortunate for him, but that is the reality.

Rossi just had a 60 point season with 20+ goals in each of the past two seasons.

Zary is a project while Rossi is turning into a legitimate top 6 forward.

[The Original FFIV]

Originally Posted by Wolven

I doubt you could offer-sheet Rossi without giving up a 1st.

Bourque is likely the only target that you could comfortably offer-sheet in that 2nd round pick cost tier.

As excited as I am about the offer-sheet idea, I would not be willing to give up next year's 1st. That eliminates most of the top tier RFA targets (Byram, Rossi, Peterka, etc).

I love the bourque idea. As long as you can force Dallas’ hand and they are cap stressed. But better prepared for retaliation at some point. But keeps our firsts which is paramount.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by TOfan

I’d prefer the Flames don’t offer sheet anyone.

They should keep contributing to their RRSP’s, opposed to chasing bitcoin.

With the emergence of Wolf and Coronato and soon Parekh too, the Flames need to figure out ways to solve the roster for today as well as building to the future. The team should explore multiple avenues for improving the roster and not limit themselves to just one.

Similar to planning for your retirement, you do not just buy RRSPs or bitcoin, you try to have 3 or 4 or 5 streams of investment so that you have a well rounded plan that could be successful on a number of fronts.

If you think the 2026 draft is so deep that a hypothetical 2026 second round pick is going to be a better player than a 2020 first round pick, then we could have that conversation, but I think Bourque is likely better than anyone we might get in the 2nd round next year and he is NHL ready now instead of in 5 years.

Right now the Flames have pretty good prospect depth in a few positions (D, Wingers) and are dismal in one important position (C). For the next couple of years the Flames should be all in on landing a top tier C as well as building C depth.

If someone like Bourque pans out quickly and is still under 25 then that gives the Flames the needed roster player today that they can slot into the core for the next 2-10 years while continuing to chase new prospects in the draft that can join the roster in 2030.

I like the idea of trading for Rossi instead of Bourque as long as it doesn't cost us a 2026 1st.

[Iniggywetrust]

Originally Posted by TOfan

I’d prefer the Flames don’t offer sheet anyone.

They should keep contributing to their RRSP’s, opposed to chasing bitcoin.

I know this isn't your point, but if you can take something with good value and make it worth 400% that value in 4 years, I think that's worth "chasing." even if it's drops to 25% value in one of those years.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by TOfan

I’d prefer the Flames don’t offer sheet anyone.

They should keep contributing to their RRSP’s, opposed to chasing bitcoin.

Offersheets aren't bitcoin. They hopefully are undervalued stock in a company you've looked at carefully.

They are investing in Hurricane Hydrocarbons just after they exited insolvency and were about to become PetroKazakhstan.

[Knut]

Why does everyone want Bourque ? I do not think he is better than Frost at this point.

[keenan87]

The one player I want the Flames to take a chance on is Trevor Zegras. Give them a 2nd round pick + prospect and bring him in for the season.

Everyone likes to talk about the veteran presence on the Flames and how healthy it can be for young players - so try it on Zegras. See if these veterans can set him straight because he definitely has the talent and the potential to be a star.

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by Knut

Why does everyone want Bourque ? I do not think he is better than Frost at this point.

Potential I suppose. He's underutilized in Dallas and could grow with players the same or similar age here. Age appropriate as the Flames like to say.

Plus he's 3 years younger than Frost and a right handed shot as well.